Amar’e Stoudemire removed his Phoenix Suns jersey almost immediately
after he and his teammates were eliminated from the postseason by the
Lakers in Game 6 of the Western Conference finals. It would be somewhat
of a leap to read anything into that gesture beyond what it was: a
player trying to put a difficult loss behind him as quickly as possible.

But for Stoudemire, as we’ve heard incessantly for the past two seasons,
there is much more to his reality.

Amar’e Stoudemire on Saturday denied an ESPN.com report that suggested
his time with the Suns will end after the season .

"Like I’ve told you guys all season, I’ll play this season out and see
how it goes and then try to make a decision this summer," the Suns
forward said. "It’s still 50-50, and it’s always going to be that way
until a decision is made."

Another potential free agent could be off the NBA market well before it
even opens. And while that might be bad news for the Knicks and Nets, it
could be good news for David Lee.

Suns forward Amar’e Stoudemire, a possible prime target of the Knicks
and Nets this summer, has been offered a contract extension, according
to Fanhouse.com, which quoted a source as saying that the two sides are
"getting closer (financially) to where they should be."

Encouraged by several weeks at the top of his game and emotionally
rejuvenated by finally feeling 100 percent again after a serious eye
injury, Amar’e Stoudemire strongly indicated Monday he will opt out of
the final season of his Suns contract and become a free agent.

It also solidified the Heat as the front runner to acquire Amar’e
Stoudemire from the Suns — if Phoenix decides to trade him. Rival
execs believe that to be a foregone conclusion due to the likelihood
that Stoudemire will not be able to work out a long-term agreement with
the Suns. Although Phoenix apparently is not thrilled with Miami’s
offer — which according to a source includes Michael Beasley and a
first-round pick — the Suns may have little choice but to go through
with the deal rather than have their 2010-11 cap space eaten up by
Stoudemire and/or lose him with no compensation. The Sixers, who have
been on the periphery of the Stoudemire discussions, were no longer
involved as of Wednesday night, sources said.

Amar’e Stoudemire and the Phoenix Suns are no longer discussing a
contract extension, and the All-Star forward was privately telling
friends that he believes he’s playing his last game in a Suns uniform
on Wednesday night in Dallas, sources said.

DALLAS – Steve Kerr and Danny Ferry met Friday at All-Star weekend, a
sure sign that Cavaliers’ pursuit of Amar’e Stoudemire has intensified.
But if anybody knows the downside of such a move, it’s Kerr.

One snag in a possible pairing of Stoudemire and LeBron James in
Cleveland would be another kind of pairing that’s already been tried
and didn’t work. Shaquille O’Neal and Stoudemire could not co-exist in
Phoenix, one of many reasons Kerr was forced to undo his mistake and
send Shaq to the Cavs.